The preview for the film “Drumline” is now being shown in cinemas throughout the country.
BET Veejay’s Free and AJ are shown introducing the college marching bands from inside of the Georgia Dome with not one “Aggie Pride.”
Among them is a fictional band from “Atlanta A&T” with a strong resemblance to N.C. A&T’s with its logo and blue-and-gold colors.
Fox Studio’s “Drumline” is based on the marching bands of black colleges and universities. It’s the story of Devon Miles, a fictional snare drummer who faces trials and tribulations as a key recruit for a college marching band.
The creators of “Drumline” give credit in the movie to Morris Brown College, Grambling State University, Bethune-Cookman and Clark University.
The controversy over this film, at least on the A&T campus, is whether or not they should have based images on our own Aggies or given us credit.
Freshman print journalism major Eric Ellis is a Georgia native who participated in the filming of “Drumline.” He is shown in a brief shot of the opposing homecoming bands.
“The directors said that they needed to shoot multiple settings in a stadium without travelling a long way and spending a lot of money,” Ellis said.
“A&T should get some credit for the colors and symbols. Basically, it’s just A&T with a different name,” Ellis said.
Some of A&T’s band faculty and band members voiced their opinion on the movie’s portrayal.
“I feel that we should have been included,” said John Henry, assistant band director of the Blue & Gold Marching Machine.
“I think that what they’re doing is basing the story off of us,” said band member Xavier Jones, a music education major. “But they don’t want to pay the school for the band.”
Tyjuan Turner, a senior history major, stated his view as a former member of Cold Steel’s drumline.
“It doesn’t offend me, they truly have some of the best HBCU bands represented, but everybody knows who that A&T blue and gold belongs to,” Turner said.
“Drumline” stars actors Orlando Jones (Double Take), Nick Cannon (The Nick Cannon Show) and Zoe Saldana (Center Stage).
It is rated PG-13 and is set for nationwide release on Dec. 13.